Anyone seen one of the Dane Garands the CMP is substituting for the Greek FG m1's

[offthepaper]

Called the CMP yesterday to check on my Greek FG that was ordered 5 weeks ago. They said they were pretty backed up at the time (Carbine fever, I guess), but did state that almost all of the available Greek FG's were spoken for. The person then went on to say that I MIGHT be offered the choice of accepting a Danish FG, in place of the Greek FG.
My question is: Has anyone actually seen any of the recent stock of Danes, or already recieved one? Does anyone have any info on the Danes. Are these the same Danes that they were selling a few years back, or are they from another "batch" of imports. Also , I keep hearing that some may be fitted with a VAR barrel. What makes the VAR barrel special? Performance, collectability, finish?
Any help appreciated as I would like to get some idea of these before I recieve the offer and have to make a choice. But at this point, If the rifle would be a good shooter, I'll likely take the chance and complete the purchase.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Last time I was at the South Store a week or two ago, I got a look at the field grade Danes, and my overall take was that they looked nicer on average than the Greeks. I don't know, generally speaking, if mechanically one is any better off than the other, but the Danes looked to generally have been better treated than the Greeks, which tended towards badly mismatched wood or wood with a quarter inch thick crust of cosmoline on it over assorted dings, scrapes, and cracks.

That said, I really shouldn't go to the store , as I ended up walking out with a Dane FG to go with my Greek. Pre-WW2 production (Springfield s/n in the 70,000s), matching wood (Danish rather than USGI, though, I think), mechanically very good condition, and with a VAR barrel from the 50s. Trying to stay away at least until the carbines go on sale.

The VAR barrels are, apparently, supposed to be very high quality. I haven't had a chance to get the Dane on the range yet to see if the reputation is justified in the case of this rifle, however.

I would think that you'll probably be pretty happy with a FG Danish rifle in lieu of an FG Greek one, if that's an option.

 

[FXR]

I just received a Danish "less wood". The metal looks near new and the barrel is a VAR -- can't wait to get it in shooting shape. My plan is to fit it out with a CMP-cartouched stock and have fun.

I can't vouch for all the rifles but I've been very happy with the three I have.

 

[jcs77]

I was at the South Store this morning and looked over a good number of the Field Grade Danes. Overall, they looked pretty good. Out of the thirty or forty I gauged the muzzles on, there were three that had an M.E. of under 3. There was also a good number with VAR barrels. The stocks were either really dirty USGI walnut or mismatched with really rough and fat replacement wood.

 

[auberg]

I picked one up a few weeks ago while I was in Birmingham on business. I had gotten a Greek FG a few weeks before this one. The Dane has a 1+ on the muzzle and a 2 on the throat. The stocks were in very good shape, and I plan just to refinish them. I hadn't checked at the time, but it occured to me before I got it that it might have a VAR barrel on it. When it got here, it was the first thing I checked, and it certainly did. (Bonus)

The receiver was made in May of '44. I'm hoping to get it out to the range tomorrow. Its been too cold or rainy the last couple of weekends here to get out.

 

[offthepaper]

Thanks for the input.
Sounds as though it may work out better for me to receive a Dane instead of one of the Greek returns. It seems as though the Danes may have taken better care of their rifles than the Greeks did. Most of the Greeks I have seen in the FG were pretty chewed up on the wood, plus very mismatched.
It would still be nice to see a pic from the recent Dane FG's the CMP issued. Anyone?